Teacher's industrial action forced by Rees govt intransigence

Dr Kaye said: "Teachers are being confronted with an offer from the Department of Education and Training that amounts to a pay cut.
 
"Without unacceptable trade-offs that would damage education and the profession, the Department’s offer would leave teachers' salaries falling behind inflation.
 
"This is a particularly bad time to attempt to cut incomes in schools and TAFE colleges.
 
"With sixteen thousand teachers expected to retire in the next four years, the Rees government should be working hard to make education a more attractive career choice.
 
"Slashing salaries and working conditions will leave the public education system struggling to replace retiring teachers.
 
"The department also wants to slash sick leave and impose draconian conditions for teachers with serious, long term illnesses.
 
"In a work place that exposes teachers to infectious diseases and high levels of stress this is deeply unfair and will undermine morale.
 
"Minister Firth must step in and stop her department's war on the education profession.
 
"Today’s stop work meeting has been forced on teachers who are determined to protect public education from the devastating consequences of the Department’s salary cut and conditions trade-offs.
 
"If Minister Firth cares about the future of schools and TAFE colleges, she will step in and resolve this issue with an outcome that respects the professionalism of teachers," Dr Kaye said.
 
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455